https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqsE-fRrMuA

When you’re hot, you’re hot. Among the many highlights during an Islanders’ 7-4 home win over the Flyers, team captain John Tavares continued his brilliant play scoring this beauty above on the power play. His team-leading 21st came with 7.6 seconds left in the second period giving the Long Island hosts a 5-2 lead. It proved to be the winner.

Tavares leads the first place Islanders in goals (21), points (46), power play points (19) and is tied with rookie Anders Lee for game-winners (5). He’s quietly sneaking into the Hart Trophy discussion. With the Isles a league best 31-14-1 with 63 points, could this be the year Tavares brings home the hardware? He’ll get plenty of competition from Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash and Pekka Rinne.

On Martin Luther King Day, 10 different Islanders registered points. Nikolay Kulemin tallied twice with a helper. Michael Grabner, Josh Bailey, Nick Leddy and Lee scored. Johnny Boychuk registered two assists and was plus-four. All-Star Jaroslav Halak made 25 saves for his 25th win which tied him for second in the NHL with Ducks’ netminder Frederik Andersen.

The Islanders will now have over a week off before a 1/27 showdown with the Rangers at Nassau Coliseum. They lead the Metropolitan Division by five over the Penguins and seven clear of the Rangers and Capitals.